To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, the patriotic overseas Chinese leader, on August 26, China Oriental Performing Arts Group announced the official formation of the new dance drama "Half of the Sea" in Beijing.
Mr. Tan Kah Kee is a patriotic overseas Chinese leader, an outstanding industrialist, an educator and a social activist. He has made outstanding contributions to the independence, liberation and prosperity of the motherland and the places where overseas Chinese live. The dance drama "Half of the Sea" is based on Mr. Tan Kah Kee, recreating his glorious journey of hard work, caring for the motherland, and investing money to build a school.
Jing Xiaoyong, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Oriental Performing Arts Group, said that Mr. Tan Kah Kee is a patriot who loves his country and his hometown and is enthusiastic about public welfare education. Throughout his life, he has always cared about the construction of the motherland, insisted on justice, and made great contributions to safeguarding the interests of the country and the nation, and to the cultural education and public welfare undertakings of the motherland. "The Kah Kee spirit is the precious spiritual wealth left by Mr. Tan Kah Kee. The dance drama "Half of the Sea" is a new artistic attempt. I hope this work can become a bridge connecting Nanyang and Southern Fujian, connecting the past and the future, and connecting Every friend who loves the motherland,” Jing Xiaoyong said.
The dance drama "Half of the Sea" is jointly produced by China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., Xiamen Funantang Cultural Industry Co., Ltd., and Phoenix Urban Culture Communication (Beijing) Co., Ltd. The play brings together chief director Lin Chen, screenwriter Zhang Hua, composer Dong Lexian, stage design Liu Kedong, costume and styling designer Li Ruiding, lighting designer Liu Ning, multimedia designer Wang Meng and other artists who are active in domestic stage creation. Feng Shuangbai, chairman of the Chinese Dancers Association, is invited to serve as the artistic director of the repertoire, Ren Jingbo, the permanent honorary president of the Xiamen Jimei School Alumni Association, is invited to be the special consultant of the repertoire, and a number of experts are invited to serve as expert consultants for the repertoire.
The play is scheduled to officially premiere at the Central Opera House from October 20th to 21st, and will subsequently embark on a national and even global tour.
Photo courtesy of China Oriental Performing Arts Group
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Tian Wanting
